“I have been consulted by the group that have submitted the proposal for Joggins to be accepted as a World Heritage site, and specifically argued that Blue Beach should be considered as an equally important locality for our understanding of the early history of land vertebrates.

From these few miles of sea cliff and beach have come a host of fossils providing the only evidence, anywhere in the world, that provides a link between the very archaic amphibians of the Upper Devonian and the subsequent radiation of all later land vertebrates.
Together with the Parrsboro locality, these sites provide a spectrum across the geological time scale that has no equal anywhere else in the world.”

“Blue Beach preserves the oldest extensive assemblage of fossil footprints of early tetrapods on the planet. It thus provides a unique window into understanding the early colonization of land, a window that no other site provides.

Clearly, Blue Beach is a world class (and it is a world famous) fossil site. It is a national treasure that Canada and Nova Scotia are lucky to call their own. Indeed, its scientific import ranks it with the other great Canadian fossil sites, such as Joggins, Miguasha, Dinosaur Park and the Burgess Shale.

The Blue Beach fossil site should be preserved, protected, studied and interpreted for the betterment of all.”

“…Blue Beach (also known as Hortons Bluff), Nova Scotia, as one of the most important fossil localities in North America. As such, the conservation of its fossils, both found and waiting to be collected, is tantamount to ensure our better understanding of the animals that passed over the fish-tetrapod boundary.

At Blue Beach folks learn about the diversity of archaic fishes that ultimately resulted in you and I, for my money one of the most exciting stories evolution has to tell.

I strongly encourage any efforts that can be made to support the expansion of the role the BBFM plays in its community along the Avon River, and to the international scientific community.”

“As the scientist who compiled the ‘comparative study’ central to the Joggins nomination, I am an expert on the Carboniferous ecosystems of the world. If Joggins is the finest example of a fossil site from the latter part of the Carboniferous period, then Blue Beach is certainly one of the most globally important Early Carboniferous localities. I urge you to support the development of Blue Beach Museum proposal.”

“ I would like to add my support for the creation of a new museum at Blue Beach, Nova Scotia. As with some of the other proponents I would rank this site as or more important than the Joggins or Wasson Bluff since it marks a critical transition from sea to land and definitely shows that at least some of these early land animals came from the sea, not freshwater bodies.

The province has already invested very heavily in both Joggins and Wasson’s Bluff (Parrsboro), which are also extremely important sites. However, the Blue Beach site pre-dates those sites by several 10’s of millions of years, and is actually more important from a scientific and historic point of view.”

“I write in strong support for your government’s recognition of the Blue Beach Fossil Museum at Avonport, Nova Scotia, as a facility highly deserving…..

Given the success of famous fossil localities elsewhere in the Maritimes (e.g., Joggins and Parrsboro) [and for that matter, elsewhere in Canada], the Blue Beach fossil locality richly deserves similar respect and recognition, and officially sponsored moral and financial support.”

“This new museum at Blue Beach should complement the recently established museum associated with the Joggins locality, and others such as the museums at Miguasha and the Nova Scotia Museum in Halifax, forming a chain of fossil centres across Canada. It would be enhanced by the recognition of Blue Beach as a Geosite and its designation as a Special Place, both potentially boosting international and local tourism. I would also strongly support its designation as a World Heritage Site.”

“I am writing this letter to support the development of the Blue Beach Fossil Museum (BBFM) initiative. In a time when ‘junk’ science in the form of so-called ‘intelligent design’ is on the ascendant in some regions, the early Carboniferous fossils of Blue Beach provide one of the most outstanding opportunities for contributing to evolutionary science education in Canada. I believe that in supporting this initiative we will help build a lasting and significant educational and cultural resource for all Canadians.”

“I am writing in support of the Blue Beach Fossil Site, in order for it to be recognized as a World Class locality due to its unique and scientifically valuable fossil components, and to support the Sonja Wood and Chris Mansky of the Blue Beach Museum in their efforts to collect, exhibit, promote and educate the public on the Blue Beach site.

I believe the Blue Beach fossil site is the most significant Early Carboniferous vertebrate site of just the handful currently known.
I fully support the Blue Beach fossil site being recognized as one of global significance, and that promotional and educational facilities and infrastructure would be of enormous value to the local community, Canadians, and to the global scientific community.”